The problem is with lights on the 2.5" HDD Bays, when fitted with a SAS drive then no problem, a blue light appears to say the bay is taken, but if we fit a SATA Drive (Velociraptor) or SSD (Intel) then it does not light.

I just remembered; I had this issue on a Chenbro backplane/server case and the issue ended up being the 8087 cables that I used to connect my backplane to the RAID card. Once I got "better" cables, the lights started working again.

Its so great to have Supermicro actually replying in this thread, yet another testament to the fact that supermicro simply is the best quality and best support when it comes to high level sever components.

I can add my experiences to this thread as the Blue HDD LED are very important to me as well. I spoke with SM phone support about 3 months ago about this very same issue.

I have a several SC846 (4u 24 bay chassis), each with the backplane of BPN-SAS-846A (direct attach, 6 x sff-8087, 24 ports). On my backplanes, the Blue LED lights are ON when a drive is populating a slot, and dim based upon activity. On my backplane in has nothing to do with if the drives are sata or SAS ( i have both, and SSDs too, and its always, ON if populated, DIM on activity).

I have other supermicro backplanes (such as the expander, BPN-SAS1-846EL1) which does the opposite, Blue LED off when populated and the Blue led lights up based upon activity. I like the former much better (OFF and light up based upon activity) as its much easier to diagnose/visualize true drive activity and clearly see which drives are part of which array (as drives grouped on arrays will blink in harmony on access). You can better see how much actviity is being run through each drive this way (its hard to tell how much the led is dimming on my BPN-SAS-846A BPs)

However, SM phone support informed me (they called back a few days later after checking with a higher up tech) that there is no way to change this setting, and its hard coded into the BackPlanes firmware (which we cant change nor upgrade). but like i said: On my backplane in has nothing to do with if the drives are sata or SAS ( i have both, and SSDs too, and its always, ON if populated, DIM on activity).

i just wanted to add my 2c that i would much prefer it if the LEDs were OFF and only illuminated on Activity (or better yet, the ability/option to change between the 2 x LED setups, maybe via a jumper possibly)

I have other supermicro backplanes (such as the expander, BPN-SAS1-846EL1) which does the opposite, Blue LED off when populated and the Blue led lights up based upon activity. I like the former much better (OFF and light up based upon activity) as its much easier to diagnose/visualize true drive activity and clearly see which drives are part of which array (as drives grouped on arrays will blink in harmony on access). You can better see how much actviity is being run through each drive this way (its hard to tell how much the led is dimming on my BPN-SAS-846A BPs)

Bill,

Just to confirm, you mention the "former", but state you would like to have the LED off, then active when HDD/SSD is being accessed?

Yep, I personally prefer the "former" way. I say former because in my experience, my older backplanes (my BPN-SAS1-846EL1) operate the blue LED in this way: Blue LED OFF always (drive or no drive in slot), and Blue LED blinks on activity.

My Newer backplanes (ie my SAS2 or my BPN-SAS-846A a direct attached backplane, which i just ordered brand new about a month ago) operates the blue led this way: Blue LED ON if (any type of drive is in slot) - Blue LED dims/blinks on activity.

I personally prefer the former or older way (it the way my SAS1 backplane) handles the Blue led, that is: Blue LED OFF always (drive or no drive in slot), and Blue LED blinks on activity. ﻿ I personally feel i can gather more drive utilization info from the LEDs operating in this way. Plus i can also very clearly see which drives are part of which array set based upon which LEDs blink at the exact same time (the same can be true for the "newer way" but its alot harder to make out bc its dimming vs illuminating).

I can see how admins with tons of racks of these might prefer the "newer" led way though. (i have about 80 HDDs spinning in supermicro chassis here)

I cant re-iterate enough how great it is to have a real supermicro insider gathering feedback in a thread like this. Its just great, and yet another reason why i love supermicro products above all :). Im hoping some other users will reply to John's RFQ above this post, but at the same time id like to point John and others to another thread on Serve The Home where this exact issue (blue LEDs on SM backplanes) has been discussed in depth (along with many other SM backplane comments). I wish this and the STH thread could be merged some how.